Even though the Mineola High School job center may be situated in a small, almost obscure room in the school, its purpose is anything but small. It's where many students go in their quest to find employment. For many, a visit to the job center is the first step in being introduced to the job market.

The Mineola High School job center has been in existence for over 20 years and has been successful in placing students at after-school jobs. With job notices posted on the door to the center, students find a position they would be interested in and a cooperative work experience coordinator such as Bonnie Greene, a business teacher who has been associated with the job center for three years, takes them through the process of finding a job.

Positions range from office work at medical and law offices to retail establishments and food services at various businesses within Mineola and surrounding communities. Students not only get a weekly paycheck, but, through the Mineola High School Work Experience Program, students can earn one half credit or a credit depending on the amount of hours worked.

Besides working at their jobs, students are also given assignments having to do with the workplace such as those pertaining to child labor laws or interviewing skills, writing a resume, interpreting a paycheck and dressing for success.

According to Greene, the job center has been extremely successful in not only helping students find jobs, but also teaching them professionalism and training that will serve them well after they leave school. Of course, the willingness on the part of local businesses, thought of as partners in bringing Mineola students into the workforce, to offer jobs is essential.

When students visit the job center, they are asked what type of job they are interested in. The job center then tries to make a match between a student's interests and jobs that are available. Once a job is matched with their interests, they are coached on how to fill out the application and how to succeed in the interview. Students are given that extra nudge that is sometimes needed to get the position.

Once they have the job, they meet in the job center on a monthly basis to verify their hours. Students sometimes need counseling while on the job such as how to display professionalism, how to deal with difficult workplace situations or on how to leave the job correctly.

With the work experience program, both the businesses and students benefit. Businesses benefit by filling positions they need to and students gain on-the-job training. "It's most rewarding that they're psyched that it's their first job or when they flash their first paycheck," said Greene.

Students learn good working habits in addition to financial rewards. "This is an experience they don't get in regular classroom instruction," explained Greene.

Because of growing regents and state requirements, there is now less opportunity and less room in a student's schedule to take elective classes. With the work experience program, students can learn some of the skills required in the workforce while also earning some money, although the work experience program is more about hooking kids up with jobs, said Greene, who will visit potential job sites before placing students.

There are almost always more jobs than there are students. The amount of students in need of a job fluctuates. After extracurricular activities end, students tend to go to the job center to try and find a job.

The combination of being a student and an employee sometimes doesn't match, but most of the time it is very successful. Outside the job center, there is a wall of fame with some pictures of students who greatly benefited from the work experience program. For instance, current Board of Education President Gia Lynn Hall, class of 1983, took advantage of the work experience program when she was in school. Billy Dekanchuck, class of 1986, was placed as an auto body apprentice. He is now the owner of Jericho Collision. There are other examples of how the work experience program successfully helps students learn the work habits and professionalism for successful employment. "It's been successful. Sometimes jobs last for months, sometimes for years. We would like to see the program remain strong," said Greene.